Jeff Adams - Suspension and Appeal

Suspension and Appeal

Adams was suspended for two years for testing positive for cocaine at the 2006 Canadian wheelchair marathon championships in Ottawa.

Adams claimed an unknown woman inserted cocaine into his mouth while they were sitting together at the Vatikan Club, a Toronto nightspot. Shortly after, he used a catheter. Later that week at Ottawa, Adams used the same catheter to provide A and B samples for his urine test which is how he tested positive for cocaine.

After the positive test, Adams asked for a hearing before an independent arbitrator, who determined he had committed an anti-doping violation. The arbitrator also ruled that Adams should be suspended from competition for a two-year timeframe. Adams' suspension meant a loss of federal sport funding for life.

Adams filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, which ultimately went in his favour. A three-person arbitration panel found Adams' story to be true, and that the failed test was because of the previously contaminated catheter. The panel added the athlete had been the victim of an assault at the bar and could not be held negligent or at fault.